East Point leaders call Kemp’s coronavirus order ‘absolutely crazy’
City's mayor urges residents to stay home and Netflix and snuggle
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Council blisters Kemp’s easing of coronavirus restrictions
The East Point City Council blasted Gov. Brian Kemp’s order re-opening businesses on Monday, calling it “absolutely crazy,” “irresponsible” and “a recipe for disaster.”
The strong reaction from the mayor and city council members came just a few hours after Kemp (photo) announced the opening of some businesses as early as Friday – while also preventing cities from taking any action such as closing non-essential businesses or imposing a curfew. Kemp’s easing of coronavirus restrictions comes as the state continues to see daily increases in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Georgia.
Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham called Kemp’s order “very concerning.”
“The number of Georgians whose lives are being lost continues to increase,” Ingraham said during a council meeting on Monday.
“It seems that there is this desire to put profit over people and that’s against my constitution. I firmly believe that we have to put people over profits, people over politics. And right now we are not talking about making widgets, we are not talking about goods and services. We are talking about lives and humanity,” Ingraham added.
The mayor’s comments were the most measured of the reactions. Council members delivered blistering takedowns of Kemp’s latest executive order.
“This is absolutely crazy. I just do not have the words to actually express what I truly am thinking,” Council member Thomas Calloway said.
“The truth of the matter is, hospital or no hospital, for some people this disease is deadly no matter what they do for you in the hospital,” he added.
Council member Karen René called Kemp’s action “irresponsible.”
“Re-opening the state, for the state of Georgia is irresponsible,” René said. “However there is nothing we can do at this juncture but wear our makes, wash our hands, wear gloves when needed and social distancing.”
Council member Sharon Shropshire said the state needs to offer widespread testing for COVID-19 before re-opening non-essential businesses.
“To me that is a recipe for disaster because people can be carriers and not show any symptoms,” Shropshire said.
“By the governor reopening the state without any additional testing than what they are already doing is going to spike the numbers up higher. It is going to really really make your doctors and nurses work harder because now they are going to have an influx of numbers that are increasing. It’s almost like we are going to have a setback because of what is going on,” she added.
‘This is a horrible death’
Council members expressed concern that opening businesses now will lead to a new wave of coronavirus infections. COVID-19 cases in Georgia disproportionately impact African-Americans. East Point’s population of nearly 35,000 people is more than 75 percent black.
“As we have learned, African-Americans die disproportionately to other groups. That’s very important,” said Council member Joshua Butler (photo).
“So when people start to talk about opening up businesses, just be mindful that people that look like the people in East Point are dying at a higher percentage” he added.
Council member Lance Robertson said people should resist the urge to rush back to pre-pandemic routines.
“There is a rush to open up the state and America and we should continue to proceed cautiously,” Robertson said.
“Continue to really monitor yourself, your family, your community and your neighborhood with an abundance of caution,” he added.
René and several council members urged East Point residents to stay home and follow health guidelines for physical distancing, wearing protective gear and washing their hands.
“Shelter at home and watch this thing very closely,” René said. “This is a horrible death, it is a horrible way to die. Many people are dying without their loved ones at their bedside. All of us have been impacted one way or the other.”
Council member Myron Cook urged senior citizens – also a population severely impacted by COVID-19 – to stay at home, exercise and “keep yourself in decent health.”
“I’m talking to the senior citizens now,” Cook said. “You know in that age group – because I am one of you – we can’t take tomorrow for granted. We have to work at it.”
Cook also mixed a subtle critique of Kemp’s new executive order with an upbeat prediction.
“I think this going to be over but it won’t be tomorrow, it won’t be Friday, it won’t be Monday. I think we are going to make it,” he said.
Netflix and snuggle
What frustrates the city’s elected leaders is that Kemp – again – prevented them from putting in place more restrictive measures in the city to combat coronavirus. The city council took several aggressive steps in March, including closing non-essential businesses and ordering a curfew for businesses and residents, that were wiped out when Kemp issued a less restrictive shelter-in-place order on April 2.
Ingraham (photo) said she will call an emergency council meeting if she discovers actions the city can take to supplement Kemp’s executive order issued on Monday.
“The executive order does again suspend any actions by local city councils, municipalities and counties in an attempt to tie our hands,” Ingraham said.
“If we are not able to provide any additional protection outside of the executive order by the governor, at the end of the day it becomes an individual choice about whether or not you want to help ensure that you are not only saving your life but the lives of others and it is time for us to be our brothers and sisters keepers. It is time for us to think about others as well as ourselves and it is absolutely time for us to put people over politics and people over profits,” she added.
Ingraham asked residents to stay home and enjoy time with loved ones. She also offered a tip for sheltering in place: Netflix.
“I’ve been binge-watching on Netflix a lot of different shows, so there are more than enough opportunities to watch a lot of great TV in the comfort of your home. Snuggle close with your family. Just enjoy your time with your family. Be smart. Be safe. Stay home,” the mayor said.
Check out more coverage of how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting East Point.